With the aim to find the missing TB cases in the state during the coronavirus pandemic, over 20 per cent population of Uttar Pradesh has been screened for TB as focus of the government is back on tuberculosis following decline in COVID-19 cases in the recent past.
The screening is part of the 'TB Harega, Desh Jeetega' campaign.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the TB Programme staff was roped in to manage the spread of COVID-19. This impacted the implementation of the TB programme.
"This (screening) campaign will help find the missing cases of TB and ensure they receive quality treatment from the government," said Dr Rajendra Prasad, Vice Chairman of the national taskforce of National TB Elimination Programme.
The campaign was divided into three phases. The first entailed joint screening camps at certain places which may house vulnerable populations, including prisons, old-age homes, orphanages, shelter homes for women and children, madrasas and ashram schools. The second phase included house-to-house visits in urban and rural slums by the programme staff to identify cases among high-risk groups, including diabetes patients. The symptomatic patients were screened for both TB and COVID-19 through these exercises.
As a majority of TB patients visit the private health sector for medical care, the third phase, from January 13, focused on engaging private providers, including doctors, chemists and laboratories, by the TB programme staff to encourage them to notify TB cases to the government and ensure they adhere to the standard government treatment protocol.
In the last five years, greater engagement with the private sector has led to an exponential increase in notifications from the private health sector - from 18,865 cases notified in 2015 to 1,61,083 in 2019.
"Recognising that the private sector caters to a majority of TB patients in the state, the TB programme has intensified engagement with private doctors and chemists, and created mechanisms by which the public and private sectors are working toward a common goal of TB elimination. The results of this engagement are for everyone to see today," said Dr Shibu Vijayan, Global TB Director, PATH, a non-governmental organisation working closely with the state government to engage private health care providers.
Experts also informed 'The Pioneer' about the expansion of the private sector engagement programme called Patient Provider Support Agency (PPSA) models in 20 districts across the state to facilitate free care to patients seeking care in the private sector.